The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-16
A DIsGUsTED Diplomatic.

Minister TayIorss Description of Life in Lii
beria-A Land Snakes and Office Holders.
Washington Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
Several paragraphs have been printed about
the return of G. II. j. Taylor. United States
minister and consul general to Liberia, but
none OF them has comprehended the disguised
diplomate's unique and startling descriptions of
the country and it's manners and customs. Mr..
Taylor is well-fed and rather fat colored man,
nearer white than black. He is Democrat,
and halls from Kansas, where he was a consider
able force in politics. He went to Liberia as
minister last spring, and is now in Washington
on a two months leave of absence. At the
piration of that leave he will resign. He does
not hesitate to declare this purpose. He says
the interests of the government will not suffer
in the least by his absence from his post, for
there is no earthly thing for him to do but draw
his salary OF $1,000 year. The United States
is the only country represented by minister at
Liberia. and Mr.. Taylor thinks the Office ought
to be abolished and the business of our govern
ment placed in the hands of fee consul
Moreover, he says the government owes him
81. 600, 900 by right for staying in such a God
forsaken country as long as he did, and he Will
take little rest in lieu of payment.
Mr.. Taylor says that all that is possibly worth
living for in Liberia is in the hands of twelve
thousand civilized colore6 men. Over million
blacks it would seem, stand in not much better
relation than slaves. The Presidents Cabinet
is larger than that in the United States. There
is Secretary of War, though the country has
though the water line is not even graced by
boat and to the end. Seven eighths Of
thu military establishment is composed of COM
missioned officers, and the immediate military
guard of the President is like Artemus Wards
militia company-a grand array of shoulder
strapped martinets to command two poor pri-
Yates. On the streets of Monrovia it Is not
common to see native women against whose
nakednass strings of beads the only inter
positions, and stalwar. men who affect no cloth
ing but the ''plug hat" The silk tile is about
the only fig leaf of civilization which the native
Liberian has cordially grasped He is par
tial to it as the mobile red man" in Montana.
and is certainly as grotesque. a reporter asked
Mr.. Taylor about the snakes IN Liberia.
''Oh." said he, There many kinds of
snakes and other venomous things there. There
is the boa-copstrictor, the poisonous black
snake centipedes. corpions lizards. and so
There is a very short snake there which is dead
ly. But perhaps the most terrible things are
the drivers Everybody and everything gets
ont of their way"
what are the drivers2'
'sThey are ants, varying in size from the com
mon ant IN this country to the commanding
general, who is as big as your thumb from the
middle joint. They move in vast professions,
and funny it may seem, appear to be drilled
They come in droves of millions upon millions,
and eat everything before them. They are the
scayangers of the country, and do a great deal
toward keeping down the snake population"
DO they kill the snakes2"
.'Yes, and eat them. boa-constrictor after
crushing his prey, will move around in great
circle see if he will be safe from the drivers
if he swallows his dinner and goes to sleep. The
boa ia Just like the people. He wants to 60 to
sleep after he gorces himself"
''Will these drivers attack human beings and
go into housesl"
Eyes indeed. If you are in a house there you
want get out when the natl We servant tells you
tine drivers coming The natives can smell
them. The drivers will surround house and
send q detachment to the roof. Then you may
see snakes and lizards drop from the ceiling and
lay the floor, but they Go not try to get away.
trying to escape f-am their deadly enemies, the
drivers These death dealing scavengers leave
In body after they have ransacked your house,
and then you may return and stay until your
native protector smells another army. IL you
are sick and not move out when they come
1t goes hard with you. They are dangerous to a
well man. You can't fight them. All you do
Is to evacuate, and let them have their own
way"
MIR. Taylor was located at Monrovia, but
Travelled about the country to a considerable ex-
tent. There was way of getting around but
to walk. There no horses vehicles there,
and not even cows to amount to anything The
cows not much larger than Newfoundland
dogs and nobody milks them When asked
how ne travelled without being snake bitten, he
said he never went expedition unless he
was accompanied by about sixteen natives.
eight to walk in front of him and eight to bring
up the There would be snakes to the
right of him. snakes to the left of him, snakes
ment of snake e ghters was positive necessity
in travelling To cut long story short, Mr..
Taylor gives discouraeng account of the
country There is nothing to do there. and alb
solutely no entertainment. There are, however.
plenty of snakes and officers. Mr.. Taylor is not
a man of porcine procliyities. He knows when
he mas had enough